Modular pool constructive design

ABSTRACT

Modular pool constructive design whose walls are constituted by metallic panels ( 17, 18, 19 ), made up by folding metallic sheets, comprising a bottom including a structure that supports a plurality of metallic panels-tiles ( 16 )—said walls ( 11, 12, 13, 14 ) are connected to said bottom&#39;s structure, making up a unique and non-deformable structure, all the pool&#39;s elements are interlinked by semi-permanent connecting means, such as screws and nuts. The dimensions of the pool&#39;s elements allow its easy transport in small vehicles or buildings&#39; elevators.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to the construction of pool and, morespecifically, to pools made up of standardised dimension modules.

BACKGROUND OF THE STATE OF THE ART

The growing popularity of pools for recreational, therapeutic anddomestic use has resulted in the creation of a plurality of types andmodels, intended to meet the market's large variety expectations. Amongothers, the following can be mentioned as the most widely spread:

concrete pools, lined with tiles, miniature tiles or vinyl linings;

fibreglass pools, manufactured according to standardised dimensions andshapes;

mixed type pools, with concrete base (bottom) and blocks, clay bricks ormetallic sheets, usually waterproofed with vinyl lining or fibreglassskin.

However, constructing pools of the above mentioned types is a relativelycomplex, slow and expensive process, since, in addition to requiringspecialised labour, they have disadvantages inherent to their nature.

In fact, it is known that concrete structures require the manufacture ofmoulds that, once used, are disposed of, resulting in a substantialwaste of material.

The fibreglass pools, although they do not have this inconvenience, theyrequire digging a hole in the ground with the proper dimensions, as wellas the provision of a concrete support bottom.

Additionally, both concrete and fibreglass pools cannot be moved toanother location, and can they have their dimensions (length, width,shape, depth) altered, having no choice but to live with the originaldimensions forever. In the case of a pool built at a certain time forsmall children to use, for example, it is impossible to increase thedepth when these children grow.

Conventional pools have even other inconveniences, such as the need ofspecial techniques to install underwater lighting (that must be plannedduring the construction), not being possible to alter the number orposition of the lights once the construction has ended.

The above mentioned inconveniences have resulted in the search ofsolutions based on modular techniques, in order to make their costs moreaccessible, as well as reducing assembly time and making it easier. Thattrend is exemplified by the patent documents U.S. Pat. No. 3,798,857,U.S. Pat. No. 3,820,174 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,047,340, which describetechniques based on the use of standardised modules.

However, the inventions described in the above mentioned documents haveinconveniences that limit their usefulness, as is shown below. Thedocument U.S. Pat. No. 3,798,857 describes a pool which walls are madeup by steel sheets modules, equipped with couplings between the verticalborders of the adjacent modules, whose assembly results in the pool'ssidewall, according to FIG. 1. Nevertheless, the illustrated pool has tobe embedded into the ground, therefore, requiring as occurs withfibreglass pools—the digging of a hole for its construction.

In addition, the invention does not take into account the bottom of thepool, which requires specialized and, therefore, costly labour. The samelabour is needed too manufacture the concrete blocks that providesupport to the walls' anchor beams. As well as that inconvenience, theexecution time is long, because of the time necessary for the concreteto harden.

The document U.S. Pat. No. 3,820,174 describes a pool whose walls aremade up by steel sheet modules, complemented by a trellised structure,as is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The objective of this invention is toprovide a structural array for assembling the ladder's handrails, aswell as the support of a concrete deck or pavement surrounding the pool.As in the previous example, the bottom of the pool requires specializedlabour, which is also necessary to lay the concrete pavement, theseoperations that involve the delay necessary for the concrete to harden.

Patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,047,340 describes a pool which walls are made upby modular plate shaped elements that have, in their vertical borders,groove and tongue joints, those plates being supported by horizontalthrust provided by “X” shaped pre-moulded parts, as shown in FIGS. 4 and5. The array shown requires the use of a concrete bottom (referenced as90 in FIG. 5) to support the wall modules 32, on which they lean, aswell as the module internal borders of the deck 20. The distal end ofthe latter is supported by one of the arms 50 of the “X” shaped part,which bottom arm 50 d leans on a metallic bracket 80 that is secured tothe ground or—according to the document—a concrete base, not shown inthe figure, this base is necessary due to the fact that the stress,resulting from the water's thrust on the walls, are unloaded on to thisbracket. In the object of this patent the same considerations regardingthe delay introduced in the time of construction due to the timenecessary for the concrete to harden, are also applicable.

The three examples of the state of the arte described above also suffercommon inconveniences, of which one of the most evident consists of thefact that the pools have fixed depths, since the walls are constitutedby predefined size modules. Another serious inconvenience of thesemodels is in the possibility of the occurrence of structural damages inthe case of differential pressure of the ground on which the pool lies.

In fact, in the objects described in the documents U.S. Pat. No.3,798,857 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,047,340, any deformation of the ground, onwhich the brackets or concrete blocks lie, will result in thedeformation of the pool walls. Additionally, the differential pressureon the soil on which the bottom lies will produce stress that couldresult in the appearance of cracks with probable fissures lining andconsequent infiltrations that speed up the wear and tear process of thepools.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

Due to the above, the first objective of the invention is to provide aconstructive design that results in a pool in which the effects ofirregularities in the soil compression strength.

A second objective is to provide a building method that allows an easyand fast assembly of pools whenever possible disposing of specializedlabour.

Another objective is to provide a constructive design that allows theeasy disassembly and reassembly of the pool.

Yet another objective is to provide a constructive design that does notrequire the use of concrete walls or bottom, blocks or bricks.

Yet another objective is to provide a constructive design that includesthe structure of a deck.

Another additional objective is to provide a constructive design thatallows easily altering the pools dimensions and shape.

Another objective is to provide a constructive design that allowsassembling the pool both under and above the ground level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above mentioned objectives, as well as others, are attained by theinvention through a constructive design, in which the modules thatconstitute the bottom and walls are interlinked by semi-permanentconnecting means in order to make up a unique and non-deformablestructure.

According to another feature of the invention, said modules aremanufactured of steel sheets, which bestows them lightness, portabilityand easy assembly According to additional feature of the invention, themodules that make up the walls are manufactured of differentstandardised heights, all having the same horizontal dimension, makingit possible to obtain several depths by piling the proper modules.

According to yet another feature of the invention, the pool's internallining is of Vinyl, applied once the pool's structure assembly has beenfinished.

According to another feature of the invention, the pool's bottom iscomprised by a base structure covered by closing modular panels.

According to another feature of the invention, the deck is comprised bystandardised elements and is part of the structure.

According to another feature of the invention, the pool's assemblydisposing the use of soldering or concreting, all of its componentsbeing joined to one another by means of standardised dimensions screwsand nuts.

According to another feature of the invention, the set of modulescomprises modules with opening for underwater light fittings, propermodules for skimmer and modules for bottom drain.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The other advantages and features of the invention will be easierunderstood through the description of a preferred embodiment and of thedrawings that refer to it, in which:

FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 show pools built according to the known art.

FIG. 6 shows, through a perspective view, the structure's aspect of apool built according to the principles of the invention.

FIG. 7 shows, by means of top views, various combinations of sidemodular panels corresponding to different depth pools.

FIG. 8 shows the manufacturing of a typical panel, according to theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 9 shows, by means of a perspective view, details of the assembly ofthe panels that make up the wall in one of the pool's corners.

FIG. 10 shows, by means of a perspective view, the features of the wallpanels in a corner with an angle that is not of 90°.

FIG. 11 shows, through a blown up view, the elements that comprised thepool's bottom structure, according to the principles of the invention.

FIG. 12 shows, by means of a perspective view, part of the pool's bottomstructure once assembled.

FIG. 13 shows, by means of a cross section view, the joint of the sidepanels with the bottom's structure, according to the principles of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Now, referring in more detail to FIG. 6, which shows a pool exemplifyingthe invention, not limiting it, comprises the pool 10, with rectangularshape and uniform depth, two sidewalls 11 and 12, two head ends 13, 14as well as the bottom 15, all these elements being constituted byconstructive modular panels as described below.

Since in the example embodiment described the pool has a standard depthof 1 meter, the sides 11, 12 and the head ends 13, 14 are comprised bypanels 17 overlaid on panels 18 that, in turn, are overlaid on panels19. All these panels have the same length, corresponding to a standardmodule, which can have any convenient measurement, in the presentembodiment the value of 1 meter is being adopted. Panels 17 have auseful height of 500 mm, panels 18 the height of 300 mm and panels 19,200 mm. Adding these heights the total depth of 1 meter is obtained. Thetotal height of panels 17 is 630 mm, in order to leave a clearance of130 mm between the water surface and the pool's border.

Yet according to FIG. 6, the pool's bottom 15 is made up by panels 16,hereinafter called “tiles”, which completely line the bottom's surface,and that are supported by a base (not shown in the figure) comprised byan array of standardised dimension, modular, crossed beams.

Additionally, according to the principles of the invention, all thepool's components have dimensions that allow loading them in pick-ups orsmall trucks, offering easy and low cost transport.

In the example embodiment herein described, the dimension of the largestpart, corresponding to the beams of the base of the bottom, is only 2meters. This allows them to be transported in buildings' elevators;substantially reducing vertical transport costs to assemble pools inpenthouses.

FIG. 7 shows some example assortments of different height side panelsthat allow building pools with various depths. In drawing 7 a, the depthof 1 meter is obtained by overlaying a panel 17, with useful height of500 mm, a panel 18, 300 mm high and a panel 19, 200 mm high.

In drawing 7 b, the depth of 1.2 meter results from overlaying a panel17 of 500 mm, a panel 21 with 400 mm high and a panel 18 of 300 mm.

FIG. 7 c shows a depth of 1.3 meter obtained by overlaying a panel 17,two panels 18 and a panel 19, whilst in FIG. 7 d the depth of 1.5 meterresults from overlaying a panel 17 (500 mm), a panel 21 (400 mm) andthree panels 19 (200 mm each).

A general rule adopted to build the pool's walls is using higher panelsnext to the surface, adopting progressively shorter panels at greaterdepth.

It is also noted, in the present embodiment, that the height of panel 17is greater than 500 mm, the excess 21 corresponds to the clearancebetween the water's surface 23 and the top of said panel 22.

The drawings of FIG. 8 show, in details, how a pool's panel is formedfrom a metallic sheet 30. As FIG. 8a shows, the developed sheetcomprises a rectangular central portion 31 having stripes 32, 33, 34, 35contiguous to the sides of said rectangle, and separated from the latterby folding lines 31 a . . . 31 d. These stripes have a standardisedwidth and through holes 36, all of the same diameter and located atpredefined positions according to the standard adopted. Once these rimshave been folded in the direction indicated by the arrows 37, the panelacquires the aspect shown in FIG. 8 b, where the rectangular centralportion 31 will make up the pool's sidewall. The hydrostatic pressure 38is applied on this central portion 31, producing horizontal and verticalbending stresses. The horizontal rims 32 and 34, which act as a beam'svanes, absorb the former. The vertical rims 33 and 35 provide thenecessary rigidity against the bending stresses on the vertical plan. Inaddition to the structural role, the said rims provide connecting meanswith the rest of the wall's adjacent panels.

FIG. 9 shows a layout of the elements that constitute part of the wallsand a pool's rectangular corner, formed by the meeting of said walls at90 degrees. The first wall that comprises sets 41 and 42, each one ofwhich formed by piling the modules 17, 18 and 19. According to theinvention, the vertically adjacent modules are joined through thescrew-nut elements 44-45, which traverse the through holes 35 in thejuxtaposed horizontal rims, for example in the present case, rim 34 ofmodule 17 with rim 32 of module 18. Horizontally, the same type modulesare joined, i.e., module 17 of set 41 with module 17 of set 42, and soon, the same elements 44-45 providing the permanent joint between saidmodules.

FIG. 9 also shows how the joint in a right angle between the first set43 of the second wall and the first wall of the pool, is structured.According to this figure, rims 33 and 35 of the same type modules makean angle a between them, which, in the present example embodiment, isequal to 90°. The connection between these elements is provided by angleiron 46, which rims also make an angle α=90°, and whose drillingcoincides with the holes of said rims. The same screw-nut elements 44-45are used to provide the connection of said elements.

It is important to point out that the layout shown is not limited toright angles, the angle between the walls can have differentmeasurements to 90°, such as for example 120°, for hexagonally shapedpools. In this case, the side rims 33′ and 35′ turned towards the cornerbetween walls will be folded at angles different to 90°, since it isconvenient maintain the right angle between the rims of angle iron 46,in order to preserver the necessary rigidity of the structure. In thepresent example, the said angles are equal to a 75°, as FIG. 10 shows.

The pool's floor is constituted by a support structure on which theclosing panels called “tiles”, are placed. The structure is comprised byrectangular grid formed longitudinally by the sleepers, havingcrossbeams placed between them; all these elements are modularlydimensioned de forma modular. FIG. 11 shows, by means of a blown upview, the elements that make up said support structure, comprising:

sleepers 51, formed by one or more intermediary modular beams 52 at thecentral portion, having at both ends the point modular beams 53;

scarves 54 to connect said beams, by way of top joints, formed by short“U” section beams, dimensioned in order to fit in the modular beams;

modular crossbeams 56 placed between said sleepers by means of angleirons 55.

Screws and nuts 44-45 (not shown in this figure), of the same type anddimensions used in assembling the walls, connect said structuralelements to each other.

FIG. 12 shows part of the structure assembled on the pool's floor,forming a rectangular grid with the same pitch as module m. This gridsupports the floor's smooth tiles 57, which lean on beams 56. As shownin figure, said tiles have side rims 57 a that act as vanes providingthe necessary rigidity to resist the bending resulting from thehydrostatic pressure on the bottom. In addition to the smooth tiles 57,special tiles are provided for various functions, such as tile 58 thathas a central opening 59 to assemble the bottom's drain.

FIG. 12 also shows angle irons 61 that constitute the side panelassembling elements, providing the necessary link between the pool'swalls and bottom. These angle irons 61 have through holes 62 a on theirvertical rims, co-operatively aligned with holes 62 b located on thebase structure perimeter beams (crossbeams and sleepers), to which theyare attached by means of screws 44 and nuts 45. According to theschematic cross section view of FIG. 13, the wall lower, such as, forexample, panels 19, are attached to the horizontal rims of said anglebars, by means of screw-nut sets 44-45 and through holes 63, resultingin the formation of a unique block by said link. Consequently, thehorizontal stress applied to said panels by the hydrostatic pressure areunloaded on the floor's structure.

Although the above description referred to pools, the constructivefeatures of the invention offer a wide range of applications. One ofthese refers to the building of iced water reservoirs for airconditioning systems in existing buildings, without requiring civilworks or structural alterations. In fact, the invention allowsassembling a reservoir on existing floors, for example in garages orpatios, thermal isolation being provided by polyurethane or polystirenesheets interlaid between the walls and bottom and the vinyl lining.

Therefore, it is understood that modifications can be introduced bytechnicians in the subject, keeping within the conceptual limits of theinvention, the latter being limited by the list of claims below.

1. MODULAR POOL CONSTRUCTIVE DESIGN, whose walls are constituted bymetallic panels, characterized by the fact of comprising a bottomincluding a structure that supports a plurality of equally metallictiles, the said walls being connected to said bottom's structure, makingup a unique and non-deformable structure and for all the pool's elementsare interlinked by semi-permanent connecting.
 2. MODULAR POOLCONSTRUCTIVE DESIGN, according to claim 1, characterized by the factthat the said panels are manufactured by folding steel sheets. 3.MODULAR POOL CONSTRUCTIVE DESIGN, according to claim 1, characterized bythe fact that piling side panels of various heights forms the walls,said panels have the same horizontal dimension.
 4. MODULAR POOLCONSTRUCTIVE DESIGN, according to claim 1, characterized by the factthat said bottom has a support structure made up by beams areinterlinked by semi-permanent connecting elements means.
 5. MODULAR POOLCONSTRUCTIVE DESIGN, according to claim 4, characterized by the factthat said support structure is comprised by a set of sleepers laid inparallel and a set of crossbeams placed at a right angle in relation tosaid sleepers.
 6. MODULAR POOL CONSTRUCTIVE DESIGN, according to claim4, characterized by the fact that the beams the make up the supportstructure are comprised by steel sheets folded into a “U” shape. 7.MODULAR POOL CONSTRUCTIVE DESIGN, according to claim 1, characterized bythe fact that said support structure comprises, semi-permanentconnecting means with the pool's walls.
 8. MODULAR POOL CONSTRUCTIVEDESIGN, according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that saidconnecting means are comprised by angle iron type beams whose verticalrims are joined to said support structure perimeter beams and whosehorizontal rims provide the support and the connecting means of thewalls' module lower panel rims.
 9. MODULAR POOL CONSTRUCTIVE DESIGN,according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that said connectingmeans comprise through holes on the said angle iron beam horizontal rimaligned with the corresponding holes in the lower rim of the wall'slower panel.
 10. MODULAR POOL CONSTRUCTIVE DESIGN, according to claim 2,characterized by the fact that each wall panel comprises a rectangularshaped central portion and a rim along each of both horizontal sides ofsaid central portion and bent at right angles in relation to the latter.11. MODULAR POOL CONSTRUCTIVE DESIGN, according to claim 10,characterized by the fact that each wall panel additionally comprises arim along at least one of the vertical sides of said central portion;said rim bent at a right angle in relation to said central portion. 12.MODULAR POOL CONSTRUCTIVE DESIGN, according to claim 10, characterizedby the fact that each wall panel comprises a rim along of one of thevertical sides of said central rectangular portion, said rim being bentat an angle different to 90°, in relation with said panel.
 13. MODULARPOOL CONSTRUCTIVE DESIGN, according to claim 1, characterized by thefact that tiles are provided with a central opening for the bottom'sdrain.
 14. MODULAR POOL CONSTRUCTIVE DESIGN, according to claim 1,characterized by the fact that the bottom's support structure sleepersare provided by joining various length top beams.
 15. MODULAR POOLCONSTRUCTIVE DESIGN, according to claim 14, characterized by the factthat the longer of the above mentioned beams are 2 meters.
 16. MODULARPOOL CONSTRUCTIVE DESIGN, according to claim 1 characterized by the factthat the semi-permanent connecting means of the pool's elements areprovided by screws and nuts.
 17. MODULAR POOL CONSTRUCTIVE DESIGN,according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that the beams the makeup the support structure are comprised by steel sheets folded into a “U”shape.
 18. MODULAR POOL CONSTRUCTIVE DESIGN, according to claim 11,characterized by the fact that each wall panel comprises a rim along oneof the vertical sides of said central rectangular portion, said rimbeing bent at an angle different to 90°, in relation with said panel.